Doncaster Rovers: Deano return odds slashed

Paul Goodwin
Doncaster Rovers

Dean Saunders has emerged as a shock contender for a sensational return to Doncaster Rovers following his hasty departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Saunders was yesterday backed into 2/1 from 40/1 for the job - second only to frontrunner Paul Dickov - after he was shown the door at relegated Wolves.

The Welshman’s stay at Molineux lasted just four months as he failed to prevent the Midlands giants slipping straight out of the Championship and into League One.

Having suffered a similar fate with Doncaster, Saunders in all likelihood will have to be patient in his search for a new job.

Rovers are more likely to go in a new direction and hire someone without the baggage that Saunders would bring.

Saunders himself might also prefer some time out of the game following the stresses and strains of a second successive relegation - which visibly took their toll on him.

However, Saunders did earn a lot of respect among Doncaster’s current squad for the way he rebuilt Rovers and set the wheels in motion on the club’s instant return to the second tier.

He also has a very close affinity with newly-appointed director of football Brian Flynn and good working relationship with chief executive Gavin Baldwin and although a return to Doncaster would seem unlikely it cannot be ruled out completely.

Rovers will start interviewing candidates next week, according to chairman John Ryan.

Favourite Dickov, meanwhile, has also been linked with Sheffield United.